Ten Commandments for Strays

 If you come across an animal in distress—whether injured, malnourished, or abused—don't turn away. Your actions can make a significant impact. Often, what they need most is your time, not money. Treat it as a form of charity: evaluate the animal's condition and take the necessary steps to help. 

 If you are the first to find an animal in distress, consider it a fortunate opportunity to make a difference. Don’t just take a photo and post it online asking for help; assess how serious the animal’s condition is. If it's critical, such as in the case of an accident, immediately take the animal to the nearest hospital. Otherwise, offer assistance by providing food or water (cat food is often available at medical shops) or placing the animal in a safe area until help arrives. Always stay with the animal until it receives the necessary aid—you could be saving a life. 

 For medical assistance, search for nearby vets on Google or browse through helpline page on our website. Treatment for minor issues usually costs between Rs. 350 and Rs. 500, making it an affordable way to save a life. For community animals, check with local residents; they may know the animal and be willing to help transport it to a vet. If no one is around, you may be the animal’s best chance. For a cat, use a vegetable basket to transport it if you're comfortable handling it. For a dog, it’s advisable to call an animal ambulance.  You can either help the animal yourself or ask someone else to help.

 This can be challenging as animal ambulances can be costly, ranging from Rs. 1500 to Rs. 5000 depending on the distance. If you can cover this expense, go ahead, or seek a donor for support. You can find a list of animal ambulances in the helpline section of our website. Alternatively, you can contact an animal trapper or rescuer who can safely capture the animal and transport it by taxi. 

 Fosters are individuals who provide crucial aftercare for animals during their recovery phase. We have compiled a list of such fosters who offer these services. Depending on the level of care required, fosters typically charge between Rs. 150 and Rs. 350 per animal, not usually including food or litter in the case of cats. This care is essential for a short period until the animal has fully recuperated. Once the animal is back to health, it can either be released back into its original area or put up for adoption to find a permanent home. 

 Animal shelters should be a last resort for housing animals. Healthy animals ideally should not be placed there because shelters may lack the personalized care and social interaction they need to thrive. However, shelters can provide temporary care for disabled or unadopted animals and often hold adoption events. Despite this, it's generally best to explore other options first, such as fostering or specialized rescues, to ensure each animal's well-being and chance for a permanent home.